One killed in Manipur bomb blast

One person was killed in a bomb blast in Manipur's interior Thoubal district early on Monday morning, official sources said.

The bomb allegedly planted by militants to attack security personnel went off this morning at Nongpok Keithelmanbi area under Yairipok police station and a boy who was passing through the area was killed instantly by the splinters of the bomb, the sources said.

Police forces have rushed to the spot for an investigation.

The bomb was allegedly planted by militants to attack security personnel as security measures across the valley districts were stepped up in view of the panchayat elections on September 14 next, the sources added.

Official reports from the districts said the militants hurled grenades at the houses of some panchayat candidates in Lamshang area in Imphal west district and yairipok Top area in Thoubal district but no casualty was reported as grenades failed to explode.

Reports said patrolling by security and police forces has also been stepped up different parts of outlying areas in four valley districts of Imphal east, Impha west, Thoubal and Bishnupur as militants might interrupt the forthcoming panchayat polls.